North Carolina woman tries on bathing suits in Aerie. Then she catches the worker talking about her behind her back: ‘I’m literally in tears’
A new mom goes swimsuit shopping at the Greensboro, North Carolina, Aerie and apologizes in advance for how many items she brings to the dressing room. Then, she overhears the worker speaking badly about her when she brings one more item back.
In a video with over 3.7 million views, TikToker Macy Ann Dennis (@macyanndennis) sits in her car after the awkward shopping experience. She explains that finding a swimsuit she feels confident in has been more difficult after having a baby just 19 months earlier.
“I got a handful of bathing suits. I got quite a bit to try on,” she says. “First thing, I let her know, ‘I’m so sorry, I know I have a handful. I just had a kid and trying on swimsuits this year has been my nightmare.'”
Dennis says she immediately noticed the worker’s unfriendly attitude after opening up about her struggle. She tries on several bathing suits and decides to put several back on the rack herself. She only leaves a few for the worker to replace.
Did she catch the Aerie worker talking about her?
She spots a bralette she wants to try on, too, and heads back to the dressing room. That’s when she walks up behind the same worker complaining about how much stuff she brought earlier.
“Tell me why I get back there to her mid-sentence talking [expletive] about how much stuff that I had drug out,” Dennis continues. “I’m already insecure. I’m already having a hard time.”
She says the worker seemed “thrown off” when she noticed Dennis could hear her and began stumbling on her words and fumbling with her keys. Dennis apologizes once again and reiterated why she was trying on so many items. The worker claims she was talking about a different customer.
Dennis says she teared up during checkout and decided to tell another worker about the situation. The cashier apologized.
“I thought about calling and reporting it but I’m not here to ruin her life. I’m not trying to make it any harder than I apparently just already did,” she says at the end of the clip.
What do viewers think she should do?
In a follow-up video replying to a comment, Dennis clarifies that Aerie didn’t initially reach out to her after she posted the viral video.
“That’s a little baffling to me with how many of you guys have tagged Aerie,” she says. “They have absolutely had to have seen it by now.”
While she initially said she didn’t want to report the incident, other comments encourage her to reach out to corporate.
“As a retired retail worker please please please report or there might be a survey on your receipt please fill it out. These companies actually look at them,” a commenter suggests.
“Babe, call corporate! I worked for them for 10 years before having kids-we don’t stand by that behaviour,” another comments.
“Please reach out to management. This is insane. Rude and disgusting service from them. And most definitely not professional I’m so sorry you had to go through that,” a third adds.
Even other Aerie workers weigh in on how the situation should have been handled.
“As an aerie employee we are trained to never ever talk about guests even when they aren’t in the store anymore,” one writes. “We also never count how many items u have so u shouldn’t have to feel like ur bringing in to many items.”
A second says, “As an Aerie worker I am so so so sorry for your experience queen I promise we are not all mean.”
However, Dennis shares in an email with The Mary Sue that Aerie finally reached out to her.
“Aerie’s TikTok page happened to see the viral video & they reached out asking for my phone number for customer care to contact me,” she writes. “Customer care issued me a $100 gift card this morning & is handling the situation to my knowledge!”
@macyanndennis @aerie your workers need to do better. Specifically your Greensboro store at Friendly Center. #aerie #customerservice #momsoftiktok #mom #momtok ♬ original sound – Macy Ann ♡ SAHM
The Mary Sue reached out to Dennis via email and TikTok direct message and to Aerie via email for further comment.
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